For general undergraduate

enquiries contact:

The Enquiry Centre

t: +44 (0)115 951 5559
w: www.nottingham.ac.uk/enquire
w: www.nottingham.ac.uk/faqs

Midwifery
Undergraduate study 2016
www.nottingham.ac.uk/midwifery

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Contents

Welcome to the
Division of Midwifery

3 Welcome
4 Why study midwifery at Nottingham?
5 Degree courses
8 Student profile
10 How will I study?
12 How will I be assessed?
14 Career and employment prospects
16 Graduate profile
18 Your student experience
22 Applying for a place
24 Frequently asked questions
26 Visiting and contacting us

Our highly regarded Division of Midwifery is part

of the School of Health Sciences. We have an
outstanding reputation for teaching and research
excellence. In the latest Research Excellence
Framework our nursing and midwifery research
was ranked 8th for impact.

Front cover image:

A student midwife on the ward with a
mother, father and their newborn baby.

We aim to make a valuable contribution to

improving healthcare for women of childbearing
age and their families. We do this by collaborating
locally, nationally and internationally on the very
best teaching methods, research projects and
woman-centred care. Within the University,
academics and students from all aspects of
healthcare work together, sharing experience
and expertise.
Our research incorporates all spheres of
midwifery practice including care in labour,
breastfeeding, and health promotion. This
important work informs our teaching and
practice, ensuring midwifery education is
based on the very latest research findings.

We look forward to welcoming you to The University

of Nottingham and the start of an incredible career.
Kim Russell
Head of the Division of Midwifery
School of Health Sciences
UoNHealthSciences
@UoN_SHS
Dont forget to watch our videos to hear from
staff and students in the Faculty of Medicine and
Health Sciences:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/go/watch-mhsfaculty

We provide a range of undergraduate and

postgraduate courses, enabling student
midwives and those already qualified to
further develop their skills and knowledge.

The Portland Building is the hub of student activity,

home to the Students Union and multiple cafes.
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Why study midwifery at

Nottingham?

Degree courses

Our innovative courses are informed by the

latest research and delivered by high-quality
teaching staff.
Midwifery is a profession that requires students
to develop the academic abilities, clinical skills
and personal qualities to take responsibility for the
overall care of women in pregnancy, their babies
and their family in a variety of settings.
Midwives can work in the community, in birth
centres, in hospitals or independently. Their role
goes much further than delivering babies; they
are also involved in antenatal and postnatal care,
in counselling, in offering support and education,
and in helping to prepare for parenthood.

Highly-skilled graduates

We are renowned for producing graduates

who are highly skilled and much sought after.
Our employment record is one of the best in
the country, with The University of Nottingham
consistently named as one of the most targeted
universities by Britains leading graduate
employers*. Our approach to blending practical
experience with sound academic knowledge
makes our midwifery graduates very attractive to
employers locally, nationally and internationally.
In addition to their studies, students are
encouraged to build a broad range of outside
interests an important part of becoming a
well-rounded individual. We are proud to have
one of the most active students unions at any
UK university, with over 250 societies and
sports clubs where you can have fun, gain new
skills and meet like-minded people. Students
can also participate in the Nottingham Nurses
and Midwives Association (NUMID), aiding
interprofessional collaboration.

As a university, we have an impressive worldwide

reputation for academic excellence. Not only are
we part of the Russell Group of 24 leading UK
universities, but we are also placed in the top 1%
of universities internationally, according to the QS
World University Rankings.

Degree title

UCAS
code

Duration

A levels

IB

Places*

B723

3 years

ABB

32

72

Single honours
BSc (Hons) Midwifery

Key facts

Nottingham is consistently in the top 10 for

nursing and midwifery in university league
tables, including The Guardian University Guide
2016 and The Times and Sunday Times Good
University Guide 2015.
Teaching is enhanced by expertise in
different healthcare subjects and there is
interprofessional learning with medical and
healthcare students.
Our teachers have international reputations
and are involved in research, presenting at
international conferences, committees, and
contributing to midwifery textbooks
and journals.
Our teachers have won national awards from
the Royal College of Midwives and University of
Nottingham Lord Dearing awards for excellence
in teaching and learning.
Our system of student caseholding enables
experience of continuity of midwifery care
throughout pregnancy, birth and the
postpartum period.
We are placed 6th in the UK for Clinical
Medicine and Pharmacy according to Academic
Ranking of World Universities 2014.

Our dynamic BSc (Hons) Midwifery course is a

pathway to becoming a registered midwife. The
three-year course has been carefully designed
and shaped to provide students with all that they
need to develop a successful career in midwifery.

Our course is recognised by the Nursing and

Midwifery Council (NMC).
* The number of places for 2016 are based on numbers for
2015 entry and may be subject to change.

Transformative learning experiences are

what we all aspire to.
Kim Russell,
Head of Midwifery Education

* The Graduate Market in 2013, 2014 and 2015, High

Fliers Research.

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Bachelor of Midwifery
BSc (Hons)
Why choose this course?

This three-year degree course has been

designed for those who wish to become a
registered midwife, in addition to completing
the requirements for an honours degree. Our
midwifery course is based on a philosophy of
midwives working closely with mothers to
identify the individual needs of each mother,
baby and family.

What will I learn?

Approximately 50% of the midwifery course is

practice-based, giving you the opportunity to
observe and participate in midwifery, nursing
and healthcare within a whole range of settings.
You will work alongside mentors in wards,
departments, clinics and womens own homes,
developing your skills, competence
and confidence.

How is the course structured?

The three-year full time programme is arranged

over three years in a modular structure, with
all modules being compulsory. Christmas and
summer holidays have been arranged to coincide
with normal holiday periods. However holidays in
March/April (Easter) take place at the same time
each year. All holidays will be detailed in your
programme training plan.

Year one

This comprises 45 programmed weeks of theory

and practice and seven weeks annual leave per
year. Modules are studied at level one during this
teaching period and comprise:
Normal Midwifery Practice in Contemporary
Society (30 credits)
The Compassionate and Professional Midwife
(20 credits)

Normal Childbirth (30 credits)

The Novice Student Midwife in Practice
(40 credits)
During the first year you will be introduced to
the role and responsibilities of the midwife. You
will begin to learn the psychomotor skills needed
to assess the needs of mother and child, and
begin to analyse and discuss the use of theory in
practice. The focus is on the promotion of normal
childbirth and the midwives professional role and
responsibilities. The modules provide a foundation
for developing the professional attributes,
emotional intelligence and insight into compassion
and empathetic care.

Year two

This comprises 45 programmed weeks of theory

and practice and seven weeks annual leave.
During teaching period two, modules are studied
at level two and comprise:
Perinatal Mental Health and the Role of the
Midwife (20 credits)
Complex Childbirth and the Midwife
(30 credits)
Research Skills for Evidence-Based Midwifery
Care (30 credits)
The Developing Student Midwife in Practice
(40 credits)
The second year provides an opportunity
for you to further develop your analytical
skills in exploring the different ways in which
pregnancy and childbirth change peoples lives.
Practice placements enable you to analyse the
appropriateness of care and develop problem
solving skills. Opportunities to develop skills in
research and evidence based practice are
also included.

Year three

This comprises 45 programmed weeks theory

and practice and 7 weeks annual leave. Modules
are studied at level three and comprise:
The Politics of Maternity Care (30 credits)
Research Evidence for High Quality Midwifery
Practice (30 credits)
The Professional Midwife in Contemporary
Society (20 credits)
The Competent Student Midwife in Practice
(40 credits)
Modules studied reflect the midwifes role as a
practitioner of normal childbirth and her role in
caring for women with complex health and social
needs. Modules on the politics of maternity care
and the professional midwife in contemporary
society aim to examine the midwifes role in
relation to socio-political as well as national and
international contexts. The research proposal will
enhance your analytical and research skills. You
will also begin to develop the skills needed for
effective management and leadership and will be
given further opportunities to develop teaching
skills. At the end of this period you will be eligible
for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery
Council and the award of Bachelor of Science
(Hons) Midwifery.

What are the entry requirements?

We accept the following qualifications:

A levels
Three A levels at ABB, including a science
subject (biology, chemistry, physics or PE) plus
GCSEs eight preferred at A-C which must
include English, maths and a science.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass the Access to Nursing and Midwifery with
45 credits at level three of which 30 must be
at Distinction and the remaining 15 at Merit or
above. The Diploma must include 24 credits at
level three in biology (preferably human biology)
all achieved at Distinction. Plus GCSE English
and maths at grade C or above. We no longer
accept level two equivalencies for GCSE
English and maths.
BTEC Extended Diploma in Health Studies
Minimum of DDM including a science subject,
with GCSE A-C grades in English and maths.
An AS level with a B in biology, physics or
chemistry can compensate for a lack of
science modules.
We also encourage mature applicants who have
experience and qualifications equivalent to those
listed above. Please get in touch if you have any
queries, using the contact details below.

How can I apply?

Please apply online at www.ucas.com

The UCAS code for this course is B723.

More information

If you have any questions or would like to find out

more about the course, please contact us:
t: +44 (0)115 823 0837
w: www.nottingham.ac.uk/enquire
w: www.nottingham.ac.uk/midwifery

International Baccalaureate Diploma

IB score: 32 (including English, maths and a
science subject at Higher Level).

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I have always known I wanted a practical and

vocational career, but it was not until I had my
own children that I began to consider midwifery.
The University of Nottingham has an excellent
reputation for the quality of teaching.
When I began the course I was assigned a personal
tutor who has been a continued source of support,
advice and guidance, especially as the University
encourages independent learning, causing me to
begin to pursue a masters programme already.
Attending The University of Nottingham has been
a pleasure and provided me with the foundation
of knowledge and experience needed as a
newly qualified midwife. I would recommend the
University to anyone hoping to pursue a successful
career in midwifery.
Amber Clarkin, Registered Midwife
Amber studying in the Greenfield Medical Library, Queens Medical Centre.

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How will I study?

The practice learning experience

Innovative teaching

You will have access to a personal tutor who will

support you throughout the course. Regular
one-to-one meetings with tutors are common,
giving you the opportunity to discuss academic
progress, professional development, and clinical
practice advice or seek confidential help and
advice. Personal tutors will also refer you to other
University support mechanisms where appropriate.

Placements

Students receive lectures from experts and

practitioners in their field, and in addition to this
there is a wealth of extra learning opportunities
such as: demonstrations; dynamic small group
projects; debates; tutorials; workshops; computerbased projects; seminar presentations; and
simulated skills lessons.

Academic assignment support is provided through

our formative assessments, which allow you to
develop academic writing skills prior to submitting
your first assignment. This allows us to build up a
picture of your academic writing style and enables
us to provide you with, or refer you to, specific
and targeted support. Further tutorial support
is available for subsequent modules from the
appropriate midwife teachers.

In the School of Health Sciences we provide

innovative teaching which is led by current
research into healthcare education; much of which
is driven by researchers within the school. As
a result, the teaching that students receive will
continue to respond to changes and innovations
in education.

Some learning will be interprofessional with

students from a variety of other healthcare
professions, for example, medicine, nursing,
physiotherapy, pharmacy and dietetics.
In addition to interactions with your lecturers and
peers, you will be expected to take part in directed
and self-directed independent learning. We invest
greatly in new technologies and innovative online
teaching methods, so this independent learning
is enhanced and supported. There is a dedicated
team within the school who help to create bitesized reusable learning objects which are award
winning, peer-reviewed and used by healthcare
professionals globally. They are completely free to
use. Visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/helmopen

Structured support at every stage

We know that midwifery is a challenging

profession and support is a vital part of the
learning process. We have created an integrated
structure that supports you as you become a more
confident independent learner and practitioner.

You can also access a wealth of University

support at the Student Services Centre on a wide
range of issues. Information can be found at
www.nottingham.ac.uk/studentservices
The Students Union is also a great place to find
help. Find out more at www.su.nottingham.ac.uk

Learning Community Forum

At this forum, midwife teachers are invited by

students to discuss any issues regarding the
theoretical aspects of the course and its delivery.

Key Information Sets

Key Information Sets (KIS) are comparable sets of

information about full or part-time undergraduate
courses and are designed to meet the information
needs of prospective students. All KIS data is
published on the Unistats website:
www.unistats.com
For Nottinghams KIS data, please see individual
course entries at
www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy

10

Your experience in real clinical settings will allow you

to put into practice what you have learned in the
classroom. Midwifery can be challenging, but with
the support and expertise of midwife mentors and
teachers around you, you will be able to build up
your competence and confidence.
You will be allocated to a number of placements
with different NHS Trusts. These include
Nottingham University Hospitals (City Hospital
Nottingham and Queens Medical Centre), United
Lincolnshire Hospitals (Boston and Lincoln),
Royal Derby Hospital, Chesterfield Royal Hospital
and Sherwood Forest Hospitals (Mansfield).
You will be expected to either commute to your
placements or find accommodation nearby.
During your allocated placements you will gain
experience of caring for women in a variety of
midwifery settings both in the acute hospital
environment and in the community. You will also gain
experience in non-midwifery clinical areas: medicine,
surgery/gynaecology, theatres, perinatal mental
health and neonatal units.
During your placements you will be under the
supervision of a variety of qualified midwife mentors,
and also work alongside other support staff. You
will be linked to a Supervisor of Midwives, allowing
you to see the professional role of supervision
and to observe and develop leadership qualities.
Each of the hospitals provides an outstanding
learning environment, with study facilities, libraries,
technological teaching and learning materials.

Elective placements

The elective placements take place at the end of

your second or the beginning of your third year.
This placement allows you to choose where you go.

This might be in a specialist area of your choice

in the UK or you might choose to carry out
your placement overseas. You can choose your
placement so that it complements your career
ambitions and interests. It is through these
placements that many students discover their
career path of choice. This placement is self-funded,
arranged by you, and is dependent on academic and
practice achievements commensurate with the stage
of education.
Erasmus
Through the Universitys Erasmus scheme, you
may have the opportunity to study in a European
country for up to 12 weeks at one of our partner
universities in Malta, Denmark or Cork. A bursary
is available for this and is dependent on academic
and practice achievements commensurate with the
stage of education.

Caseholding

As part of this innovative approach you will follow

individual women through the antenatal, intrapartum
and postnatal periods of their pregnancy. This will
enable you to experience and provide holistic care
for women and their families. Caseholding will also
help you put theory into practice and work in a range
of interprofessional settings within maternity care.

Practice Learning Team meetings

Practice Learning Teams (PLTs) link to clinical

areas and regular meetings include students,
staff and midwives. Practitioners provide advice
and support to the team about current practice
issues. Evaluations of clinical areas by students are
discussed and learning opportunities are mapped
to the nursing and midwifery council standards for
practice achievement.

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How will I be assessed?

Assessments are an integral part of our

courses and are included to provide you
with the opportunity to maximise your own
learning. Assessments are also included to
meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council
(NMC) standards of proficiency for practice
and pre-registration midwifery programmes
of education.
We assess you theoretically and clinically in a
number of ways including:
case presentations
case studies
clinical skills records and workbooks
a practice portfolio
critical incident analysis
debates
essays
numeracy testing
objective structured clinical exams
unseen written exams

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A midwifery student, mentor and

tutor during a tripartite meeting.

Some modules have formative components

to develop your skills and ideas prior to the
summative submission of work. We would
encourage you to make use of this
valuable opportunity.

Assessment in practice

Tripartite meetings happen twice a year. This

is where you, your midwife mentor and your
personal tutor meet to discuss your progress
towards achieving your clinical competencies
and adherence to the values of the NHS
constitution. Your sign-off midwife mentors
ultimately assess you in clinical practice and
signs off these competencies.
We believe that accurately assessing the work
you do on your practical placements means close
collaboration between you, your midwife mentor
and your personal tutor. Feedback from all three
parties goes into forming your eventual grades.

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Career and employment

prospects
Midwifery is an intellectually and emotionally
demanding career; midwives are autonomous
practitioners who are the lead professional in
the care of low risk women and their families.
Midwives work closely with other professions and
agencies such as obstetricians, physiotherapists
and social workers to provide holistic care.
Throughout your career you will continue to learn
so that you can respond to developments in the
profession. This may also involve continuing your
studies to pursue specific specialist interests.
As a Newly Qualified Midwife, the salary ranges
from 21,692-28,180. After around 6-24 months
with skill development, a band 6 midwife would
gain a salary of 26,041-34,876. With career
progression to a leadership position, a Consultant
Midwife could earn as much as 67,805.*

Our graduates

Our graduates are our biggest asset, and we are

immensely proud of what they have achieved.
Many of our graduates go on to work as midwives
specialising in areas such as HIV, teenage
pregnancy, infant feeding, pathology, health
promotion, and bereavement support. Midwives
may also further their careers in the areas of
teaching and research. Once qualified, many
of our graduates apply their skills not only locally
and nationally, but internationally too; working
in a range of locations across the world.
In 2014, 100% of first-degree graduates from
midwifery who were available for employment had
secured work or further study within six months
of graduation. The average starting salary was
21,760 with the highest being 25,000.**
The University of Nottingham is consistently
named as one of the most targeted universities
by Britains leading graduate employers***, and at
14

A midwife, student midwife

with an expectant mother.

the 2015 Whatuni Student Choice Awards, The

University of Nottingham was ranked the number
one university for job prospects.

The Universitys Careers and

Employability Service

Our Careers and Employability Service, which

is based on University Park Campus, offers an
extensive range of careers-oriented services,
including CV-writing sessions, interview advice,
presentations by major employers and general
career advice. As a University of Nottingham
graduate, you will receive lifelong support from
the service. This means that you can ask a careers
adviser to look over your job application by email
or Skype, or in person, and you can also access
a database of graduate vacancies. For more
information see www.nottingham.ac.uk/careers

Nottingham Advantage Award

The Universitys Advantage Award is a programme

of activities developed to recognise and reward
extracurricular responsibilities. It allows you to
gain recognition for participating in a wide range
of activities accredited by the University and
delivered by top graduate employers, professional
services and members of staff of the University. It
also shows employers that you have gone above
and beyond your degree and gained valuable
transferable skills. For further information, please
visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/careers/advantage

Postgraduate study

Some of our best students decide to stay on

at Nottingham and join our lively community
of postgraduate research students within the
department, from MA level through to PhD.
* Correct as of 1 April 2015.
** Known destinations of full-time home and EU first-degree
graduates, 2013/14.
*** The Graduate Market in 2013, 2014 and 2015, High Fliers
Research.

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Whether it was practical clinical sessions, CV

writing classes, medicines management, numeracy
exams or even tips on professional registration
the University did so much to ensure the transition
from education to the workplace was a smooth one.
Since graduating I have undertaken a full-time
rotational Band 5 post in a major teaching hospital
working on antenatal, postnatal and labour wards.
Studying at The University of Nottingham provided
me with the skills to cope with the varied working
life of a midwife, including defrosting my car
three times to ensure I attended my first ever
home birth!
Alyson Walsh, midwifery graduate
Alyson (pictured third from left) working in a midwifery ward in Nottingham.

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Your student experience

everything you need to know

Youve read lots about the degree programme

youre interested in, now its time to explore life
outside the lecture theatre. Theres so much
for you to get involved in and explore at the
University and around the city. We are proud to
be one of the leading universities for student
experience in the UK*, which will ensure that
you have a university experience youll
never forget.

Your University of Nottingham

at home and around the world

We are proud of our stunning campuses and are

continually investing in our grounds, buildings and
amenities to ensure that you only have the best
surroundings in which to live and study. Our main
UK campuses have a mix of state-of-the-art facilities,
including sports centres, places to eat and excellent
learning facilities on every campus.
Weve made getting from campus to campus as
easy as possible and students can benefit from our
free inter-campus Hopper Bus, so youre never far
away from the striking architecture and innovative
technology of Jubilee Campus, the rolling parkland
and period buildings at University Park, or the
cutting-edge features of Sutton Bonington.
The University of Nottingham is Britains global
university with campuses in the UK, China and
Malaysia. We also have links with more than 300
universities in over 40 countries, adding a truly global
flavour to your degree and giving you the chance to
explore the world. Find out more:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/about/campuses

Your new home from home

Take a look at our accommodation video

for a taster of what to expect at
Nottingham:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/go/yourhome
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Our halls of residence are great

places to catch up with friends.

At Nottingham we offer a range of different

accommodation options, rooms are available as
single or shared, en suite or shared bathroom, all
the way through to studio flats, and vary from selfcatered to fully catered (19 meals per week). We
also offer a guarantee of University accommodation
for one year to all new full-time undergraduate
students, subject to the following conditions: you
firmly accept your course place at Nottingham,
accept your offer of accommodation by the deadline
given in your offer letter, and have an unconditional
status no later than 31 August in the year you intend
to begin your studies.

If you are a new, full-time undergraduate student

who is classified as international for fee purposes,
this guarantee applies for three years**. For more
information, including a breakdown of pricing, see
www.nottingham.ac.uk/accommodation

Your support network

Throughout your university journey there will

be numerous people on hand to support you,
including tutors and dedicated staff who will
be able to advise you on various aspects of life
as a student. We have Student Services Centres
on all three of our UK campuses, which provide
a range of support, information and specialist
services to enhance your student experience.
This support includes:
Academic Support can provide practical
advice on areas of academic study; the service
also provides specialist academic support for
students with dyslexia, dyspraxia and other
specific learning difficulties
Disability Support coordinates support
and access arrangements for students with a
disability or long-term medical condition
Financial Support provides information on the
sources of finance available from government
agencies and the University itself, and gives
advice about financial matters
Student Services also advise on issues
ranging from childcare, counselling and health
to international student support, chaplaincy
and faith support, as well as offering advice on
paying your tuition and accommodation fees
Whatever you may need support with, they will
either be able to help or point you in the direction
of someone who can. Find out more:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/studentservices
* Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey, 2015.
** Providing you submit your returners application in line with
the requirements of the accommodation providers.

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Getting involved in your

Students Union

As soon as you start at The University of

Nottingham, you are automatically enrolled as
a member of our Students Union, which is
considered to be one of the best in the country.
There are hundreds of activities that you could be
part of, providing you with the perfect opportunity
to take up a new hobby or pursue existing
interests. Choose from over 200 student-run
societies, covering all interests and abilities, as
well as local and national volunteering projects,
to which you can commit as much or as little time
as you wish.
Our Students Union is home to a number of
award-winning student-run media groups, which
give you the chance to gain practical work
experience both behind the scenes or centre
stage as a presenter, actor or journalist. The
Nottingham New Theatre, Impact magazine,
Nottingham Student Television (NSTV) and
University Radio Nottingham (URN) have all been
recognised as the best in their field, winning a
clutch of awards for outstanding achievements.
However you decide to become involved in the
Union, you can be sure you will make new friends
and learn new skills, all while having a lot of fun!
Find out more:
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk

Sports

We offer sport at all levels and an excellent

all-inclusive student membership offer, so whether
you enjoy sport as a hobby or are an elite athlete
we will have just what you need. We have over
70 sports clubs, which means we have the
2nd highest number of sports clubs of any UK
university. If youre not interested in joining a team
but want to stay fit, we have sports centres on all
of our main UK campuses.

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Exploring your new city

With Nottingham city centre just a 10-minute

bus ride away from University Park Campus, our
students are always close to the action. Buses run
through campus regularly and many run late-night
services too, which is handy if youre a night owl.

Students relaxing at Broadway Cinema in

Nottingham city centre.

For music lovers, you can take your pick from the
world-famous Rock City, Capital FM Arena or one
of the smaller gig venues for a more intimate live
show. Nottingham is rich in performance venues,
with comedy clubs and theatres catering for lovers
of drama, musicals, ballet and panto. We are very
proud of our sporting heritage, and with football
clubs Nottingham Forest and Notts County in the
city, as well as Trent Bridge cricket ground and the
National Ice Centre on your doorstep, you might
just become a sports fan if youre not one already.
History and culture can be found in all corners
of the city, with Nottingham Castle, Nottingham
Contemporary arts centre, the Galleries of
Justice Museum, Nottingham Lakeside Arts
the Universitys public arts centre located
on our University Park Campus arthouse
cinemas and three of the worlds oldest pubs all
providing points of interest. If you enjoy shopping,
Nottingham is perfect for you; independent
boutiques and vintage shops in the bohemian area
of Hockley mix with high street names in our large
shopping centres to make Nottingham a veritable
shopping haven.
Find out more:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/nottinghamlife
Download our city guide:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/go/cityguide

Find out more:

www.nottingham.ac.uk/sport

20

21

Midwifery
www.nottingham.ac.uk/midwifery

Midwifery
www.nottingham.ac.uk/midwifery

Applying for a place

To see the activities included in the selection

day please visit our website at
www.nottingham.ac.uk/healthsciences/
undergraduate/midwifery-courses
We encourage applications from mature students,
who will also be expected to show evidence of
personal motivation and recent academic studies.

All offers are subject to meeting entry criteria,

satisfactory health screening and Disclosure and
Barring Service (DBS) checks at all stages of the
application process and throughout the course. If
you accept our offer you are expected to provide
evidence of enhanced DBS screening prior to
commencement of the course.

Entry numbers

Interviews

Flexible admissions policy

For information on how many students the school

plans to admit on each course, please see the
table on page 7.

The selection procedure

Your previous qualifications and experience are

very important to us, but when our selection panel
chooses new students, they are also looking for
people with the compassion, communication skills
and commitment to make excellent midwives.
If you meet those criteria, and are successful in
the selection process, you will then be invited for
an interview.
They make their decisions based on:
your academic achievements and evidence
of recent study
a supportive academic reference, an
employment reference (if appropriate) and
evidence of good character
your ability to communicate effectively,
including your social and interpersonal skills
a caring and committed attitude
an understanding of the demands and
requirements of a midwifery course
your reasons for wanting to become a midwife
transferable skills gained from employment,
voluntary work or other areas
other achievements including your ability to
demonstrate how they will help prepare you
for this new career

22

Offers

We are looking for students who have

the ability and motivation to benefit from
our courses, and who will make a valued
contribution to the department and the
University. For more information on how to
make your application stand out, have a look
at our online prospectus:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy/applying

Those applicants who are successful at the

shortlisting stage will then be invited to a selection
event comprising of multiple mini interviews. You
will need to bring all your original certificates
and documentation for your qualifications, plus
any other documentation requested at the time
of invitation.
At the selection event there will be a number of
stations comprising of scenarios and interviews.
You will spend a short time at each of the stations
and you will have the chance to meet members of
the midwifery teaching staff, representatives from
clinical practice, service users and other student
midwives, who will be involved in the multiple
mini interviews.
It is not our policy to admit students to the
course without an interview and from the large
number of applicants that we receive, we invite
around one third of these to interview. In general,
successful candidates are expected to be able to
demonstrate potential for academic progression,
commitment to a career in midwifery and an
understanding of the role of the midwife. They
should be motivated and well-rounded people
with interests outside midwifery, with integrity
and stamina.

In recognition of our applicants varied experience

and educational pathways, we employ a flexible
admissions policy. If we judge that your situation
has adversely affected your achievement, then we
will consider this when assessing your academic
potential. If you wish to mention information about
your experiences in your personal statement, then
you should ask the teacher or tutor writing your
reference to confirm what you have written. We
may ask for further evidence and may consider a
range of factors. For more information, please see
www.nottingham.ac.uk/go/admissionspolicies

Deferred entry

you should check our specific requirements on our

course entry profiles. If in doubt, please contact the
admissions tutor, who will be happy to answer any
specific queries you have about applying as a mature
student. Please send us your questions using the
enquiry form: www.nottingham.ac.uk/enquire
For more information about being a mature student,
please see www.nottingham.ac.uk/mature

Equal opportunities policy

The University aims to create the conditions whereby

students and staff are treated solely on the basis
of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of
gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national
origin, age, socio-economic background, disability,
religious or political beliefs, trade union membership,
family circumstances, sexual orientation or other
irrelevant distinction.
For tips and advice at every step of your
application journey, visit our undergraduate
applicants area:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugapplicants

Applicants who wish to defer their entry by a year will

not be at a disadvantage. Please tell us something
about your plans for your gap year in your UCAS
personal statement.

Mature applicants

We encourage applications from mature students

(which means all those aged 21 or over when the
course begins). You should apply in the normal
way. While we accept a range of qualifications,

23

Midwifery
www.nottingham.ac.uk/midwifery

Midwifery
www.nottingham.ac.uk/midwifery

Frequently asked questions

How much are the fees?

Eligible students will get their tuition fees paid

directly by the NHS. For more information, please
see www.nottingham.ac.uk/fees

What bursaries are available?

Eligible students starting our three-year course

will be given a non-means-tested grant of 1,000,
a means-tested bursary of up to 4,395 and a
non-means-tested Reduced Rate student loan
of up to 2,324 per year. You can find out more
about eligibility by visiting
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students

aim to enable students to fulfil the inherent

requirements of the course as independently as
possible. The Universitys Disability Statement,
which lists services, facilities and opportunities
available throughout the University can be viewed
at www.nottingham.ac.uk/disability

When and where will teaching take

place?

Teaching is delivered predominantly at Nottingham

and occurs between 10am and 5.30pm for
three-five days per week, with the opportunity for
tutorials beforehand or when not in class during
study week periods.

What support is available for students

Can you help with placement
with children?
There are a range of services provided to support
accommodation?
students with children, including a University day
nursery, a playscheme and playcentre day care.
There is also a scheme to help students fund
childcare. For more information, see
www.nottingham.ac.uk/child-care

We will be able to help you find accommodation

near your allocated placement sites. Information
about claiming accommodation and travel for
placements from NHS bursaries can be found at
www.gov.uk/nhs-bursaries

What support do you offer for

students with a disability or dyslexia?

Additional funds may be provided by the University

if you are unable to claim NHS funds.

The school, like the University, is committed

to promoting access for students who have
a disability, dyslexia or a long-term medical
condition. Services provided by the University

24

Where will I be allocated for my

placement?

During your studies, you will be allocated to

a number of placements with different NHS
Trusts. These include Nottingham University
Hospitals (City Hospital Nottingham and Queens
Medical Centre), United Lincolnshire Hospitals
(Boston and Lincoln), Royal Derby Hospital,
Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Sherwood Forest
Hospitals (Mansfield). You will be expected,
either to commute to your placements or find
accommodation nearby.

Will I receive travel expenses while

on placement?

If your clinical placements are outside the

area, you may be able to claim some travel and
accommodation costs.

What will I wear on placement?

You will be provided with a number of uniforms,

including dresses, tunics and trousers. These can
be adapted to meet different cultural or religious
requirements. Students are expected to adhere to
uniform policy at all times.

What will be my hours of work during

placement?

Youll be required to attend your placement for

37.5 hours per week (exclusive of meal breaks).
Shifts will vary at different NHS Trusts and can be
between 7 and 12 hours long. Your shifts will be
planned to coincide with your midwife mentors
work patterns and will require you to work
weekdays, weekends, evenings and nights, as well
as some bank holidays.

Visit our website for more frequently asked

questions: www.nottingham.ac.uk/
healthsciences

25

Midwifery
www.nottingham.ac.uk/midwifery

Visiting and contacting us

Open days

Other visits

Mini open days

Contact us

If youre considering applying to The University of

Nottingham we recommend that you try to attend
one of the University-wide open days, which are
held in June and September each year and attract
around 30,000 visitors. Find out more:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/opendays
Mini open days are much smaller than the main
open days but offer the same opportunities to
attend various talks and tours as well as speak to
current students and academics. Find out more:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/go/miniopendays
or call +44 (0)115 951 5559.

Virtual open day

If you cant attend one of our open days in person,

or would like to explore our campuses before
visiting, take a look at our virtual open day:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/virtualnottingham

UCAS visit days

Once youve been offered a place at Nottingham,

you may be invited to attend a UCAS visit day,
which is an opportunity for you to visit the school
and to find out more about your chosen course.
You will also be given a short tour of the campus
by current students.

If you wish to make an informal visit to the

University prior to applying here, you are welcome
to do so, but you should contact us in advance
if you wish to visit the school or speak to an
admissions tutor, and we will do our best
to oblige.

School of Health Sciences

Division of Midwifery
Floor 12, Tower Building
The University of Nottingham
NG7 2RD
t: +44 (0)115 823 0837
w: www.nottingham.ac.uk/enquire
w: www.nottingham.ac.uk/healthsciences
You can also connect with fellow applicants
and current students on our Facebook and
Twitter pages:
UoNApplicants
@UoNApplicants

STUDY WHAT

This publication is available

in alternative formats.
t: +44 (0)115 951 5559
The University of Nottingham has made every effort to ensure that
the information in this brochure was accurate when published.
Please note, however, that the nature of the content means that it
is subject to change from time to time, and you should therefore
consider the information to be guiding rather than definitive. You
should check the Universitys website for any updates before you
decide to accept a place on a course.
The University of Nottingham 2015.
All rights reserved.

26

YOU L VE
#STUDYWHATYOULOVE

Printed September 2015.

Medicine and
Health Sciences

Your passion can

be your success.
Study what you love.
Our creative responses help make
us unique. Learn about the lives
of others, their thought processes
and their influences and explore
your own reactions. Well help you
turn an inspiring degree into an
inspiring career.
Find out more:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/
studywhatyoulove
27